Court reserves judgment on appeal against Senate President's CCT victory

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved its judgment on the appeal filed by the Federal Government challenging the acquittal of Senate President Bukola Saraki, by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

At the hearing on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, a three-member panel, led by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson, reserved its judgement for a later date as the appellant and respondent teams adopted their briefs.

Saraki's trial

Saraki had been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2015 for false assets declaration when he was Kwara state governor.

The Senate President was cleared of all charges with the panel citing the prosecution's failure to prove the allegations.

FG's appeal

The Federal Government filed the 11 grounds notice of appeal after the Danladi Umar-led tribunal dismissed the government's case against the former Kwara state Governor on June 14.

The notice of appeal considered the acquittal as an overruling of previous decisions by the Court of Appeal in respect to the Senate President's trial, calling it, "unwarranted, unreasonable and against the weight of evidence".

The notice was signed by lead prosecuting counsel Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), and an Assistant Chief State Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Pius Akutah who said the tribunal's decision was wrong in its consideration of the case.

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In his response to the appeal on June 23, the Senate President expressed confidence that the verdict at the appellate court would not be different from that of the tribunal as "the grounds on which the decision of the CCT was based remain unassailable."